Now things will start to get interesting for the 106-pound high school wrestlers in the area.

It all starts with the conference tournaments with the highlight being the grouping at 106 at the Woodland Conference meet, scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Milwaukee Pius.

The lightest weight class has been the most competitive in the area, and it's going to get much more so. The weight class got even harder after two top wrestlers dropped into the fray in the last two weeks.

Conference championships in this weight class will be cherished because several of the top wrestlers in the group will not be making it to the state tournament.

The group at Pius includes Greendale freshman Nathan Hensley (36-2), Whitnall junior Anthony Senthavisouk (33-2), who is dropping down after spending the majority of the year at 113, and Pewaukee senior Rajiv Geffert (28-7).

Hensley is ranked No. 15 in Division 1 at 106 by wiwrestling.com. He has already posted a pin over Geffert this year but has yet to wrestle Senthavisouk, ranked No. 6 at 113 and a state qualifier at 106 a year ago. Hensley might be the most overlooked wrestler in the weight class with his only two losses coming early in the year.

Hensley's coach, Bob LaPlante, is confident Hensley will rise to the occasion at conference and in the coming weeks. Hensley won the 106 title at the 42-team Mid-States Invitational in December.

"He doesn't let a whole lot bother him," LaPlante said of Hensley. "He's not one to be intimidated by anyone. He doesn't shy away from the talented guys. He is aware he has to wrestle his best to reach his goal of getting to state. It's going to take almost perfect execution. It's a tough weight class."

Geffert, who has been rapidly improving as the season comes to a close, is an honorable mention selection in the D2 rankings. He rounds out a tough conference lineup.

It gets even more difficult from there at the Whitnall Regional the following week when Waterford sophomore Justin Ratkovec (30-1) and West Allis Central sophomore Tyus White (29-2) will be present with Hensley and Senthavisouk. If all four advance from the regional — and they should barring an upset — they will be fighting for two state qualifying spots at the West Allis Central Sectional in two weeks.

"There?s going to be two kids with 30-plus victories staying home this year," said Whitnall coach John Quinlan. "All it takes is one slip-up, and you're staying home."

Ratkovec was ranked No. 1 at 106 in D1 for several weeks. He currently holds down the No. 6 spot; White sits at No. 5. The No. 1-ranked 106-pounder in the state is Kaukauna sophomore Ty Lee (28-6).

It's shaping up to be quite a battle among the lightweights this year.

"It's going to be a barnburner," said Quinlan. "It starts this week and it's just going to get harder and harder."

Ratkovec and White are involved in their own conference clashes against highly ranked wrestlers before they even get to regionals.

White will be challenged by Menomonee Falls junior Aaron Daley (28-7) at the Greater Metro Conference tournament, which begins at 3 p.m. Friday at Menomonee Falls.

Daly, who finished second in D1 at 106 a year ago at the state individual tournament, has struggled at 113 this year and suffered all of his losses at that weight class. He dropped to 106 and immediately assumed the No. 4 ranking.

Ratkovec suffered his only loss this year to Lake Geneva Badger freshman George Sommerville (29-5) by a 6-4 decision at the Badger Invite last month. Sommerville is an honorable mention selection at 106. Those two should meet again in the final of the Southern Lakes Conference tournament at Union Grove.

And there's still three other 106-pounders in the area with 30-plus victories.

Cedarburg freshman Colton Ryan (31-3), ranked No. 11, and Germantown sophomore Zach Szhor (31-4), an honorable mention, are favored to meet in the final of the North Shore Conference tournament at Milwaukee Lutheran. Beaver Dam freshman Devin De Los Angeles (30-2), an honorable mention, is the favorite at the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference tournament at Hartford.

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